The Crown I Will Take From You - Chapter 155

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Part 2, Chapter 2

“That’s enough greeting.”

Medeia lightly waved her white hand and raised Kensington up.

An unwavering dignity flowed from the Princess as she looked down at Kensington. So much so that one might momentarily mistake this place where she sat not for the Princess’s reception room, but for a throne.

Her gaze, clean and direct enough to seem almost arrogant, shone brilliantly. Her moonlight-like silver hair and beautiful features exuded the subtle nobility that only royalty possessed.

“You have returned safely.”

However, her slightly curved green eyes held goodwill and joy toward Kensington.

Her delicate features, which still retained a youthful air, even reflected a fawn-like fragility.

“Yes, I hope you have been well during this time.”

Kensington smiled.

I know how sharply the Princess slits her enemies’ throats while wielding that gentle appearance as a shield. Yet every time I see the Princess, I ridiculously feel pity for her.

Even I, who have experienced all manner of hardships as the head of the intelligence unit, am sometimes swayed by her like this.

‘I’m curious how much the enemies who will face our lord in the future will be manipulated.’

“Once Valdina finishes the empire proclamation ceremony, checks will begin in earnest from various nations across the continent.”

Kensington continued speaking.

“Among them, Kazen and the Holy Kingdom will be the worst. Especially Kazen will be more severe. They won’t even maintain the courtesy as a brother nation that they at least pretended to show on the surface.”

Kensington was once a high-ranking noble of Kazen and Perdickas II’s right hand. So he knew better than anyone how petty the Empire could become.

The Princess nodded as if in agreement.

“It’s still a bit burdensome for us to face Kazen on equal terms.”

“However, only Valdina has developed enough to earn Kazen’s wariness like this. Now there will be two empires on the continent.”

On one hand, it was deeply moving.

A small border nation that had been ostracized on the continent had developed fiercely and now risen to the ranks of an empire that could stand shoulder to shoulder with Kazen.

Kensington imagined how much this news must have tormented his former master and the Emperor of Kazen.

‘There probably isn’t any furniture left intact in his office.’

Perhaps unable to contain his anger, he would have tried to carve out several hearts with his golden staff.

Imagining that scene, an irrepressible thrill surged from deep in his chest.

Though I thought I had left everything behind when I left Kazen, it seems I too am just a common man who cannot let go of petty grudges.

“The Emperor is looking for an envoy to send to the proclamation ceremony. Originally, he was going to send the 3rd Prince, son of the Queen Mother, but the 1st Prince used the Senate’s veto power to block the envoy selection.”

“…”

Medeia quietly listened to Kensington’s report.

During this time, there had been very significant changes in the Kazen Royal Family as well.

Three years ago, 1st Prince Chezare, who had received a terminal diagnosis, miraculously came back to life.

And everything changed completely.

The 1st Prince, who had returned from the brink of death, came back perfectly fine as if all the suspicions and rumors that had surrounded him until now were false.

Exactly as he had been in his prime, when he slit enemies’ throats and chilled even his allies’ hearts.

And he turned his sword toward the enemies who had only been waiting for his death.

Those who had mocked the 1st Prince’s illness and those who had persecuted the 1st Prince’s faction all paid the price.

Even his father Perdickas II, who had tried to cut off his son’s limbs and devour his power before his son’s breath had even faded, was no exception.

As the first step, all the ‘Participants’ who were the strong foundation supporting the Emperor died under mysterious circumstances. As if it were the price for coveting what should not be coveted.

It was a disaster that occurred not long after the 1st Prince’s return.

“Chezare! It’s that bastard’s doing! He’s taking revenge on me for coveting his territory, Romagna and Alphanon! That lawless bastard is challenging his father!”

The Emperor raged furiously, but there was no evidence.

The Senate also sided with Chezare. Whether the reason was resentment toward the Emperor who was going mad day by day, or fear of the 1st Prince, was unclear.

Everyone suspected. Whether the 1st Prince might be behind the assassination of the Participants who had suddenly suffered misfortune all at once.

Because he had a track record of cruelly and cleverly eliminating political enemies.

But no one could point to him as the culprit. Chezare’s sword showed no hesitation, and there weren’t many brave souls who dared to open their mouths before the heads that fell like autumn leaves.

The behavior of the subjects who feared the son, the 1st Prince, more than Perdickas II trampled on the Emperor’s dignity.

“Chezare! Have you forgotten that I have not yet decided on a successor?”

The Emperor tried to suppress the 1st Prince as before, using the still-vacant position of Crown Prince as leverage.

“How could I forget? If Father cannot choose, I shall reduce the options for you.”

However, the 1st Prince, as if mocking his father, also brought down his siblings.

Starting with the 4th Princess, the 6th Princess, 7th Prince, and 8th Prince fell in succession.

In the end, only the 3rd Prince remained. Even that was barely protected by borrowing the power of his mother, the Queen Mother.

“How is it, Father? Has your choice become easier now?”

The Emperor truly began to be wary of his eldest son, who had thrown away even nominal obedience after rising from his sickbed.

From then on, the father-son relationship rapidly headed toward catastrophe.

Perdickas II now treated the 1st Prince not as his child, but as a traitor coveting his Imperial Throne.

The 1st Prince also blocked his father’s every move, demonstrating his own power.

Valdina’s empire proclamation ceremony was the same.

“The Emperor will try to send a high-ranking official who can cause trouble at Valdina’s proclamation ceremony and return without problems.”

The fight between the Kazen father and son, with neither giving an inch, was still ongoing.

“However, the 1st Prince’s faction won’t stay idle either, so they’ll send someone who can suppress the Emperor’s side. Currently, Duke Leniar is reported to be the most likely candidate.”

Duke Leniar was a key figure who could be called the focal point of the 1st Prince’s faction.

Kensington let out a small sigh of relief.

“Then even if the Emperor’s side causes trouble, it can be stopped.”

Duke Leniar is the father of the Former Empress and one of only three meritorious subjects of the Empire who belongs to the 1st Prince’s faction.

The fact that a person who rarely moves personally would come all the way to Valdina clearly meant there were orders from the 1st Prince.

“In any case, it’s good for us. The more the 1st Prince conflicts with the Emperor, the more beneficial it will be for Valdina.”

“…”

“However, since we don’t know why the 1st Prince is so friendly toward Valdina, it’s difficult to be completely pleased.”

Kensington frowned as if something was bothering him.

“When we swept the pirates around the strait last time, the 1st Prince also provided weapons through Facade. When trading mithril, we were able to avoid Kazen’s attention through the 1st Prince’s contacts.”

“…”

“Despite being a member of Kazen’s royal family, he generously provides resources as if he’s on the same side.”

“The same side? It’s just that our mutual interests align.”

Medeia shrugged, but Kensington still had a face that needed answers.

‘Mutual interests… Your Highness, the 1st Prince is not someone who shows such trivial sentiment.’

She had seen and experienced the 1st Prince directly as a noble of Kazen.

‘He’s like someone with blue blood flowing in his body.’

Wasn’t he a cruel cold-blooded person who had cut down without hesitation even those who had raised and supported him?

Kensington was worried about what such a person was thinking in showing this kind of favor to a rival nation, especially to Valdina which was rising to challenge Kazen’s position.

“My lord, you must be especially careful. The 1st Prince is not some hyena. If you let your guard down, he’ll bite your throat.”

Medeia only smiled sweetly.

Kensington doesn’t know. The fact that three years ago, the dawn Nakru that Medeia sent had saved the 1st Prince who was terminally ill.

That the gentle favors he’s extending now are the price for that Nakru.

As Medeia had hoped, the 1st Prince was stirring up the Kazen Royal Family like a whirlwind. So much so that no matter how much Jason struggled, he couldn’t regain his former position.

So much so that even the Emperor had been so preoccupied with fighting his son for three whole years that he couldn’t even pay attention to Valdina for a while.

And that was all Medeia had wanted from the beginning.

“Yes, it is a relationship with a clear ending. I am aware of it too, so don’t worry.”

Medeia had not forgotten. That Valdina was a rising emerging nation fiercely threatening Kazen, and the 1st Prince was clearly a person of the Kazen Royal Family.

In the end, this friendly relationship would only last for a short while.

Then, urgent footsteps were heard. Following that, the door burst open and Neryl appeared.

“Your Highness, His Majesty has returned!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————